So good to see what Suryakumar Yadav has achieved: Saurabh Netravalkar on former Mumbai U-19 teammate
Mumbai-born Saurabh Netravalkar, who's representing the United States of America in the ongoing 2024 T20 World Cup, has said that he's pleased to see former Mumbai U-19 teammate Suryakumar Yadav's progress in the game.
Netravalkar and Suryakumar will be up against each other when Team India take on the United States at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York on Wednesday, June 12.
In an interview to news agency PTI, the USA left-arm pacer opened up on the emotions of playing a World Cup match against his country of birth. Reserving special praise for Suryakumar, he said:
"I know all of them, and Surya and myself have played together for Mumbai U-15s, U-17, U-19s. It is so good to see what he has achieved, and it will be nice to catch up with them. Playing against India would be truly emotional."
Netravalkar is in the news for his brilliant performance against Pakistan in the 2024 T20 World Cup match at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Thursday, June 6, which co-hosts US won in a Super Over.
The 32-year-old dismissed Mohammad Rizwan (9) with a beauty that swung away late from the batter. The Pakistan keeper-batter was squared and ended being brilliantly caught by Steven Taylor at slip.
Towards the end of the innings, the pacer trapped Iftikhar Ahmed (18) leg before with chance of pace. Then, with Pakistan needing 19 in the Super Over, he conceded only 13.
Suryakumar Yadav shared special post for Saurabh Netravalkar after USA pacer's heroics against Pakistan
Team India batter and former Mumbai U-19 teammate Suryakumar was among those who hailed Netravalkar for his terrific bowling performance in USA's stunning Super Over triumph over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup.
Reacting to the US pacer's performance, Suryakumar shared an Instagram story featuring the bowler and wrote:
"Saurabh Netravalkar, tula maanla bhau (I respect you, brother). Very happy for you and your family back home."
A left-arm pacer from Mumbai, Netravalkar played only one first-class match, which was against Karnataka in Bengaluru in December 2013. With the opportunities not coming his way, the left-armer shifted to the US and made his international debut in 2019.
The bowler has represented the US in 48 ODIs and 29 T20Is, claiming 73 and 29 wickets respectively. Apart from playing cricket for the United States, he works in Oracle as a coder.